Best Card Reader for Tradespeople UK (2026): 6 Compared
Customers expect to pay by card, and a card reader in the van means you get paid on the day instead of chasing invoices. But the best card reader for tradespeople in the UK is not always the cheapest one to buy. On a £2,000 job, the difference between fees of 1.1% and 1.75% is £13, so the rate you pay matters more than the price of the reader. Here we compare six card readers on what they actually cost a UK trade business.
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How we put this together: we have not run these card readers on a live job. Reader prices, transaction fees and payout times come from each provider’s own UK pricing pages, checked on 29 October 2026. Prices for readers are shown excluding VAT, as the providers list them. Fees change often, so check the provider’s page before you sign up. See how we test for more on our methods.
1.10%
Lowest headline rate (myPOS, plus 7p)
£19
Cheapest reader (Square, plus VAT)
£0
Monthly fee on most pay-as-you-go plans
What to Look For in a Card Reader as a Tradesperson
- The transaction fee, not the reader price: a reader is a one-off cost of up to £179. Fees come off every payment, and trade jobs are big tickets.
- Minimums and monthly fees: some providers charge a fee if you take too little by card, which hurts in quiet months.
- How fast you get paid: next-day payouts help cash flow when you have materials to buy.
- Where the money lands: some providers pay into your own bank, others into their own business account first.
- Working away from a shop counter: you need a reader that works on site from your phone or its own mobile data.
The Best Card Reader for Tradespeople UK: 6 Options
1: Best for most sole traders
Cheap readers, no monthly fee, next-day payouts including weekends
SumUp is the reader you see in most vans for a reason. The Solo Lite costs £25 plus VAT, there is no monthly fee on the pay-as-you-go plan, and money from card payments reaches your SumUp business account by 7am the next day, weekends and bank holidays included. If you take a lot by card, the optional Payments Plus plan cuts the rate on UK consumer cards.
- Readers: Tap to Pay on your phone (free), Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 (all plus VAT)
- Pay-as-you-go: 1.69% per in-person payment, no monthly fee
- Payments Plus: £19 a month (or £189 a year) for 0.99% on UK consumer cards; business, premium and international cards stay at 1.69%
- Payments Plus only pays for itself above roughly £2,700 a month of UK consumer card takings
2: Lowest fees on pay-as-you-go
Low percentage rate and instant settlement into a myPOS account
myPOS has the lowest headline rate of the pay-as-you-go readers: 1.10% plus 7p per payment, with no monthly fee. On a £500 job that is £5.57, against £8.45 on SumUp’s standard rate. The catch is where the money goes: payments settle into a myPOS account within seconds, not straight into your bank, so you move it across yourself.
- Readers: myPOS Go 2 £39, Flex £59, Ultra £179 (all plus VAT)
- Fee: 1.10% + 7p per payment, though myPOS says this can vary by payment method
- No monthly fee; businesses taking over £10,000 a month get a custom quote
- Money arrives in your myPOS account in seconds
3: Best free terminal for busier firms
Free terminal, one flat rate on every card, set up with a specialist
Flatpay gives you the payment terminal free and charges one rate on every card type, including business and premium cards: 1.49% for businesses taking under £200,000 a year by card. That beats SumUp’s 1.69% if your commercial customers pay with business cards. Read the price list first, though. There is a minimum of £1,100 a month in card takings (assessed over the year), with a £39 fee for months you fall short, and a replacement terminal costs £410.
- Terminal: £0 to start, with onboarding from a Flatpay specialist
- Fee: 1.49% on all cards under £200,000 a year; custom rates above that
- No subscription, but a £1,100 monthly turnover minimum or a £39 fee
- Daily payouts and 24/7 support
Square’s contactless and chip reader is the cheapest to buy at £19 plus VAT, and payments go to your own business bank account the next day at no charge. The rate is 1.75% per in-person payment, a little higher than SumUp. Instant transfers are available for a fee if you need the money the same day, with a £50 minimum.
- Reader: £19 plus VAT; Square Terminal and Handheld also available
- Fee: from 1.75% per in-person payment
- Free next-day transfers to your own bank; instant transfers cost extra
5: Best if you already use PayPal
Money lands in your PayPal Business account within minutes
Zettle is PayPal’s card reader. The first reader is £29 plus VAT for new business users (extra readers are £69), the rate is 1.75% including American Express, and there are no contracts or monthly fees. Payments reach your PayPal Business account within minutes, which suits you if you already take PayPal for online jobs.
- Reader: £29 plus VAT for your first, £69 for extra readers
- Fee: 1.75% per in-person payment, all major cards and wallets
- No contract or monthly fee
- Funds in PayPal Business within minutes; free automatic transfers to your bank
Dojo charges a blended 1.2% on all card payments for businesses taking under £100,000 a year by card, with next-day payouts. The card machine is the expensive part: the portable Dojo Go Max is £149 upfront on a launch offer (normally £229) or £25 a month. It makes most sense for a firm taking several thousand pounds a month by card, where the lower rate outweighs the hardware cost.
- Card machine: Dojo Go Max £149 upfront (launch offer) or £25 a month; Tap to Pay on iPhone is free
- Fee: 1.2% blended rate under £100,000 a year; custom above that
- Essential plan free; Plus plan with extra reporting costs more
- Next-day payouts and UK-based support
Card Reader Fees Compared: What You Pay Each Month
Here is what each reader would cost in fees on two typical months, assuming UK consumer cards and an average payment of £250. Reader purchase prices are left out because you only pay them once.
| Card reader | Reader price (ex VAT) | Rate | Fees on £800 a month | Fees on £3,000 a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp (pay-as-you-go) | £25 | 1.69% | £13.52 | £50.70 |
| SumUp (Payments Plus) | £25 | 0.99% + £19/month | £26.92 | £48.70 |
| myPOS | £39 | 1.10% + 7p | £9.02 | £33.84 |
| Flatpay | £0 | 1.49% | £50.92 (incl. £39 minimum fee) | £44.70 |
| Square | £19 | 1.75% | £14.00 | £52.50 |
| Zettle | £29 | 1.75% | £14.00 | £52.50 |
| Dojo | £149 or £25/month | 1.2% | £9.60 (£34.60 if renting) | £36.00 (£61.00 if renting) |
Two things stand out. If you only take a few hundred pounds a month by card, avoid anything with a minimum or a monthly fee: SumUp, myPOS, Square or Zettle will all cost you less than £15. If you take £3,000 or more a month by card, the lower rates from myPOS, Dojo and Flatpay start saving you real money.
Which Card Reader Should You Choose?
Card Reader or Bank Transfer for Big Jobs?
A card reader is perfect for deposits, call-outs and smaller jobs. On a £5,000 kitchen fit, though, 1.69% is £84.50, so many tradespeople take the deposit by card and ask for the balance by bank transfer. A clear invoice with your bank details, and a deposit taken up front, keeps fees down without putting customers off. Our guide on how to ask for a deposit covers how to word it.
Whichever reader you choose, card fees are an allowable business expense, so they reduce your tax bill. Our self-employed take-home pay calculator shows what you keep after tax and costs.
Solo Lite for £25 plus VAT, no monthly fee, and your takings in your account by 7am the next day.
See SumUp card readersFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best card reader for tradespeople in the UK?
For most sole traders, SumUp is the best all-round choice: the Solo Lite is £25 plus VAT, there is no monthly fee and payouts arrive the next morning. If you take a lot by card, myPOS (1.10% plus 7p) or Flatpay (1.49% on every card, free terminal) can work out cheaper.
Which card reader has the lowest fees in the UK?
Of the pay-as-you-go readers, myPOS has the lowest headline rate at 1.10% plus 7p per payment with no monthly fee. Dojo charges a blended 1.2% but its card machine costs more, and SumUp’s Payments Plus plan offers 0.99% on UK consumer cards for £19 a month.
Can I take card payments on my phone without a card reader?
Yes. SumUp and Dojo both offer Tap to Pay, which turns your phone into a contactless reader for free. It suits occasional payments, but a dedicated reader is better for chip and PIN on bigger amounts.
Are card reader fees tax deductible for sole traders?
Yes. Transaction fees and the cost of the reader are allowable business expenses, so you can claim them against your profits on your Self Assessment.
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